Licks

by Kelly Siskind

  I’d arrived in San Francisco late this afternoon, had hightailed it to the Blue-Eyed Raven before Gwen had finished work. She, of course, had to spend time with Rachel and Ainsley before making the show. Our whirlwind of a life.

  “Where’s my girl?” I asked while sneaking a taste of her ear.

  “Right here.”

  Damn straight. “And my other girl?”

  “In your dressing room. Sarah’s with her.”

  After much deliberation, Gwen had decided to call her mother and her aunt by their given names. Not Mom and Aunt Mary. Less confusion for her. As awful as Gwen’s childhood had been at times, she saw Mary in a different light now. As a woman who’d sacrificed everything to raise her. It didn’t undo the damage those years had caused, but it helped. As did getting to know her birth mother.

  Another new woman in my life.

  Except the only other girl I was itching to see had my nose, her mother’s eyes, and the prettiest wisps of dark hair this side of the moon.

  Keeping a tight hold on Gwen’s hand, I led us to my dressing room. Sarah was reading a magazine while Lola slept in her portable playpen. An eleven-month-old treasure.

  I went to reach for my girl, but Gwen tugged me back. “Don’t you dare wake her.”

  “But it’s been three weeks.” I sounded like a whiney kid.

  “I don’t care if it’s been three years. She has your vocal gift and isn’t afraid to show it. I may need a hearing aid.”

  “But I—”

  She pressed her finger to my lips. “…but I nothing. You’re gonna make little miss’s mom happy by taking her for a birthday drink while grandma watches The Voice’s future star.”

  Sarah waved her magazine in a shooing motion toward the door. “I’ve got my van loaded already. I just need to pack Lola and the playpen, and we’ll be off. I’ll bring her ’round first thing tomorrow.”

  Sarah moving to San Francisco last winter had been a godsend. My folks visited from Chicago a couple times a year, not enough to lean on them for support. Having Sarah in town meant Gwen could return to CrossFit and her other pursuits, while someone we trusted watched Lola.

  The first six months or so between Sarah and Gwen had been dicey. Nothing easy about discovering your estranged aunt was your mother. The two had worked hard to move forward, even visiting Ted Mercer’s home together. He hadn’t had any other children, but they’d talked with his widow, had learned he’d left his criminal pursuits in favor of construction work. A simple life for a complicated man, in the end. The meeting had given Sarah and Gwen some closure.

  Watching them together now, how easily they smiled, how Sarah strived to ease Gwen’s burdens, spend time with Lola, get to know our family? It choked me up at times.

  “I’ll agree to whisking Gwen away on a late-night date,” I said, “if I get to carry Lola to your van.” I was needy to smell Lola’s baby smell, a mix of springtime and lavender and perfection.

  Gwen rolled her eyes. “Fine, but you better not tickle her.”

  “We have a deal.”

  Gingerly, I lifted Lola and cradled her against my chest. My fragile sweet thing. She gurgled, the soft sound filling my heart until it nearly burst, and I fought the urge to wake her. I got her settled in her car seat without incident. I didn’t tickle or poke her just to see her open her eyes. Vibrant eyes, like her mother’s.

  Gwen said Lola looked more like me. I thought she looked more like her. My wife. Words I never thought would describe Gwen Hamilton. Other words came to mind, the ones that filled my lyrics these days.

  Partner.

  Lover.

  Mate.

  Everything.

  And always fever. For the rest of my life, I’d burn for this woman.

  THE END

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you for reading this story. Thank you for allowing me to write. It would mean the world if you left an honest review of LICKS online. Positive or negative doesn’t matter. All voices deserve to be heard. Just knowing you took the time means the world. I couldn’t do this job without your support!

  With gratitude,

  Kelly

  If you haven’t read the first book in Kelly Siskind’s One Wild Wish Series, purchase your copy of LEGS today! CLICK HERE

  Legs

  She can’t remember their one wild night. How far will he go to remind her?

  Rachel never expected to see her one-night stand again. Now she’s competing against him for her dream job…and he wants another taste.

  Blushing? Check.

  Difficulty making eye contact? Check.

  Having hot flashes every second? Check. Check. Check.

  If Rachel can’t ignore Jimmy’s shaggy black hair, five-day scruff, and the ink peeking out of his cuffed sleeves, she’ll lose her chance to manage the wines at San Francisco’s hottest restaurant.

  Check out the blurb for the second book in Kelly Siskind’s One Wild Wish Series and purchase your copy of STUD today! CLICK HERE

  Stud

  A down-to-earth carpenter. A Prada loving personal shopper.

  A Habitat for Humanity project that erects more than walls…

  The word “nail” has so many meanings:

  Ainsley’s manicured nails belong in the Museum of Modern Art.

  The fashionista hammers nails at Habitat for Humanity.

  She desperately wants to nail Owen Phillips.

  Unfortunately, she mistakenly thinks he’s gay.

  Owen needs to shed his hellish last few years. Yearning for the simpler things in life, like working with his hands, the finance mogul joins a Habitat build. Turns out he also wants to work over Ainsley Hall…but the confusing bombshell flirts blatantly with other men.

  When Ainsley discovers Owen’s true sexuality, their mutual attraction ignites, but he hasn’t shared details about his past. If Ainsley gets wind of the lies chasing him, it will take more than hammers and nails (and nailing studs) to keep their walls from caving in.

  Need more fun, sexy romance in your life? Click on the below titles!

  Praise for Kelly Siskind’s books:

  Chasing Crazy, “With a swoon-worthy male love interest, and Siskind’s superb storytelling, this is one of the best New Adult contemporary romances I’ve read to date.” ~ USA Today Bestselling author K.A. Tucker

  My Perfect Mistake, Over the Top #1: “This has easily soared to one of my favorite books of the year and has earned itself a place on my all-time favorites shelf.” ~ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends

  A Fine Mess, Over the Top #2: “Delicious, sizzling chemistry that leapt off the page! Lily and Sawyer will absolutely win your heart.” ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Blackwood

  Hooked on Trouble, Over the Top #3: “Add this to your TBR and experience the romance, the sexy times, the heartbreak, and the swoons…you can thank me later!!” ~ The Book Hookup

  Legs, One Wild Wish #1: “An intoxicating romance that lingers like a great Merlot and leaves you with one hell of a book hangover!” ~ Scarlett Cole, author of the Second Circle Tattoo series

  Stud, One Wild Wish #2: “…a sexy and steamy read with loads of flirty and witty banter. Siskind knows how to write characters that have off-the-charts chemistry.” ~ RT Book Reviews

  For giveaways and early peeks at new work, join Kelly’s NEWSLETTER. (https://www.kellysiskind.com)

  Acknowledgments

  This book began with a news story. Actually, this entire series began because I read a wild article about a woman whose lost airline luggage was returned after having been missing for twenty years. Seriously. Twenty years. That happened. Then my writer brain switched on and the beginnings of LICKS was imagined.

  This plot bunny kicked off the entire One Wild Wish series, but it was the last book I wrote. You can imagine my excitement when finally putting pen to the page, or my fingers to the keyboard. Add in the challenge of creating a romance with obstacles and a Happily Ever After over a thirty-six hour period, and I c
an honestly say this has been one of my favorite novels to write.

  Until the next one, of course!

  Huge thank you to my writing partners in crime who read for me, call me on the stuff that isn’t working, catch those pesky typos, and make my words a whole lot better: Kristin B. Wright, J.R. Yates, Jennifer Hawkins, Heather Van Fleet, Jen DeLuca, Tammy Cole, Shelly Hastings Suhr, Rebecca Williams von Groote, Beth Miller. You all rock my world.

  Tamara Mataya, your editing has been indispensable. Sarah Henning, thank you for your keen eye on these final pages. Emily Smith-Kidman. Emily, Emily, Emily…I can’t thank you and Social Butterfly enough for helping to get this book into the world. Your tireless efforts are more appreciated than you know.

  To all you awesome bloggers: y’all are the best. You are the backbone of this industry. The romance community thrives because of your hard work.

  My husband, who listened to me talk about August and Gwen incessantly, deserves a medal for his patience. I love you to pieces.

  A small-town girl at heart, Kelly Siskind moved from the city to open a cheese shop with her husband in northern Ontario. When she’s not neck deep in cheese or out hiking, you can find her, notepad in hand, scribbling down one of the many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She laughs at her own jokes and has been known to eat her feelings—gummy bears heal all. She’s also an incurable romantic, devouring romance novels into the wee hours of the morning.

  For giveaways and early peeks at new work, join Kelly’s NEWSLETTER. (https://www.kellysiskind.com)

  If you like to laugh and chat about books and your favorite heroes, join Kelly in her Facebook group, KELLY’S GANG.

  Connect with Kelly on Twitter and Facebook, and never miss an inappropriate post!

  Twitter: @KellySiskind

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorKellySiskind/